Agri-food production and consumption involves many different sectors. One way of looking at these sectors and their inter-linkages is to examine the agri-food chain in relation to itself.

The agri-food production and consumption chain can be classified by the following major groupings:

• Input supply: fertilizers, feedstock, pesticides, cleaners and sanitisers, etc.
• Technology supply: machinery and equipment, etc.
• Agriculture: seeds providers, livestock farms, cereal farms, animal breeding, vegetable growers, etc.
• Food processing: dairy processing, meat and fish processing, primary and secondary cereal processing, prepared food processing, caning and packaging material supply, breweries and distillers, beverage production, etc.
• Retail and distribution: whole sale, transport, supermarkets, small retailers, etc.
• Consumption: households, restaurants, hotels, leisure establishments, etc.

To address environmental issues effectively, each sector needs to analyse its entire production process as well as the interaction it has with other sectors, e.g. inputs, distribution, etc.

An effective method to help a sector address its environmental impacts is to use the life-cycle approach. Unlike conventional media focused, or sector specific ways of addressing environmental issues, the life-cycle approach provides a framework to manage environmental impacts throughout the agri-food production and consumption chain. It helps policy makers and business understand the inter-dependent nature of agri-food production and consumption with the environment. The life-cycle approach also ensures environmental impacts are addressed in an integrated manner.

EXAMPLE:

Based on the life-cycle approach to sound environmental management, each phase of fertilizer production and use and the related environmental issues can be illustrated:

Click on the chart to magnify it.

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